Analysis Of Harrison Bergeron By Kurt Vonnegut

Kurt Vonnegut’s story, ¨Harrison Bergeron¨ takes place in a dystopian society in 2081, where there is complete equality and no diversity. There were three amendments in the constitution everyone had to follow about equality. Harrison, Hazel and George Bergeron’s fourteen year old son is taken away by the H-G men due to his bravery. Harrison Bergeron gets put into jail because he was still ¨too gifted¨ even after being handicapped and he attempted to rebel against his handicaps prior to his breakout later on in the story. He is handsome, tall, strong, and intelligent. George’s intelligence is way above normal and he has a tiny mental handicap around his ear so a government transmitter can send out sharp noises to keep him from taking inequitable

advantage of his brain. On the other hand, Hazel has a perfect average intelligence meaning she can’t think about anything except in short bursts. The taste and diversity that gushes out of our current societies demonstrates that although equality may be a solution from some lenses, our differences and specific powers make us a united nation and Harrison’s story gives us a glimpse of what it would truly be like if this was taken away from us. The reader can take away various powerful lessons from this short story, one being that equality is often glorified in daily life and we are set with the standard that equality is what we should be striving for. However, Harrison Bergeron clearly demonstrates what can become of the so called dystopia that deliberately stresses equality and the idea of ignorance and how it can develop pain.

Throughout the story one prominent idea that develops the theme is the fact that individuals are stripped of their unique strengths in order to fit a societal standard to be the same as everyone else. For example, within the text it states, ¨They were equal every which way. Nobody was smarter than anyone else.¨ This demonstrates the significance of equality within this dystopia and how it affects the lives of civilians. Everybody is equipped with some sort of handicaps that set them back and prevent their strengths from thriving. Harrison dislikes the motives of this society and chooses not to follow them, which is why he is taken away from his loved ones. In addition, it is obvious that Hazel is also tired of this structure, however she is unable to do anything about this because everytime she comes up with an idea to overcome this treatment, it is immediately disrupted by her handicap. She states, ¨I don’t care if you’re not equal to me for a while.¨ to George meaning that she is tired of being controlled by a government she does not agree with yet her handicap prevents her from following through with her ideas. This connects to the theme of equality since it demonstrates that she wants some diversity but her voice is unable to be heard. Moreover, it is evident that those affected by this structure are not living their lives to the fullest.

Furthermore, the reason why they are not living life to the fullest is because the society standard prevents them from putting their talents to an effective use.

The society stops them from showing and being who they really are due to the equality. The author states ¨She must have been extraordinarily beautiful because the mask she wore was hideous¨. This shows how agonizing and cruel the dystopia is by the way they are being treated. It shows how equal everyone is to each other considering the fact that no one can really show who they really are due to all the handicaps they are provided with. All the handicaps they must wear, hides their true identities and what they are capable of doing. It connects to the theme since they can’t do what they desire and instead they are being controlled by a government that is ignorant. Another detail that shows the unfairness is the fact that the announcer who was announcing the escape of Harrison, had to apologize for her voice since she used a voice that was not allowed for women, After the incident, she began to make her voice absolutely uncompetitive. This describes the society and what people are forced to do in order to meet and please the society’s standards. It seems as if the inequality and ignorance in the dystopian society is making people upset and desperate, which is why it causes Harrison to finally break the

silence.

Towards the end of the story, Harrison gradually becomes more anxious to finally overthrow the government for good and to put a stop to the equality in the society.

First he escapes from jail and then he tries to become the Emperor. During this scene he states, ¨crippled, hobbled, sickened - I am a greater rule than any man who ever lived! Now watch me become what I can become!¨ It shows that after everything he was put through, he will no longer be silent and will finally stand up for what he thinks is right. It also demonstrates that he is in pain and he is sick of it which is why he will try to overthrow the structure of the society. Shortly after Diana Moon came into the studio were Harrison and the ballerina were dancing and shot them dead. This shows the society’s consequences for sticking up for what is right and for fighting for liberty. Even though Harrison’s attempt to overthrow the government miserably failed. It only proved how cruel of a society everyone has to live with for the rest of their lives. Our differences and specific powers are what makes us a united nation and that will never

change,